Stay At Home Mom Resume Example
Being a stay-at-home mom is a full-time job, but it can be difficult to translate the skills and experiences gained from raising children into a professional resume. Whether you're returning to the workforce after a break or seeking a part-time or flexible job, showcasing your abilities as a stay-at-home mom can help potential employers see the value in your time off. Here’s how to craft a resume that highlights your unique qualifications and makes you stand out in the job market.
In this article, you'll learn how to show employers you've got the relevant qualities, skills and experience for the job, all presented in a format that employers prefer to see. The article also includes tips for formatting your resume according to your experience and strengths. Read on to access expert insights from Jobseeker that will help you create a winning stay at home mom resume.
Main elements of a stay at home mom resume
A successful stay at home mom resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections. If you're a candidate without much experience, you may wish to present your resume in a way that draws attention to your most valuable skills. These might not be in traditional work settings, so sections like education, projects, hobbies and skills can be more prominent.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Resume Header and Personal Information
In your stay at home mom resume header, list your name, email address, phone number and address or location. You can also add your LinkedIn, if you have one, to help employers better understand your work history and skills. While in some countries, you might include additional personal information or a photo, these aren't necessary. Be aware of the amount of space your resume header takes up. You don't want your contact details to take space away from the main content of your resume, so keep this section as brief as possible.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
James Jones
james.jones@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
0001 Cemetery Lane, New York, NY
linkedin․com/in/james–jones123
Resume Summary
The next section is the resume summary. The section might also be called 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. This is a brief introduction to you, your key skills and your career achievements and ambitions. While a resume summary focuses on your career achievements and experience, a resume objective typically focuses on your ambitions for the future. Furthermore, when writing your profile, focus on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for stay at home mom roles.
Alternatively, focus on introducing your career ambitions, and why this role is a good fit, both for you and the organization.
A strong resume summary focuses on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for stay at home mom roles in a clear, quantifiable way. It also gives an insight into your personal qualities, to help the reader understand why you're a suitable candidate. The graphic below showcases some good examples of what to include in your stay at home mom resume summary.
Highly organized and dedicated former Domestic Operations Manager with extensive experience in managing household schedules, budgets, and logistics. Skilled in multitasking, problem-solving, and maintaining a productive and harmonious home environment. Eager to leverage strong administrative and interpersonal skills in a professional setting
Worked in managing home tasks and keeping things organized. Handled various schedules and budgets, making sure everything ran smoothly. Good at juggling different tasks and solving issues to keep a nice home atmosphere. Looking to use these skills in a different work environment
On the other hand, an unsuccessful resume summary is one that mentions irrelevant skills, qualities and achievements and fails to differentiate you from other candidates. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Hard and Soft Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to stay at home mom positions. Consider adding conflict resolution, time management skills or any other necessary skills for the job. Again, refer to the job description and make sure you include skills that the employer has listed as essential or desirable for employment as a stay at home mom.
How to list hard skills on your stay at home mom resume
For your hard skills list, include any technical abilities or specific industry knowledge that's essential to working as a stay at home mom. These could be skills gained through work experience or qualifications. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in a stay at home mom resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
Your resume hard skills list should reflect your unique and specific industry expertise and experience, while also fulfilling the requirements listed in the job description. See the examples below for an idea of what an effective stay at home mom resume hard skills list looks like.
- Project management
- Time management
- Conflict resolution
Listing soft skills on your stay at home mom resume
Soft skills are the personal skills and qualities that make you a good fit for the job. They include transferable skills and strengths that help you settle into the role, adapt to new challenges and build effective working relationships. Indeed, as the nature of work changes, soft skills are growing in importance, so make sure you include them in your resume. You should generally look to include up to five soft or transferable skills that match the job description.
The strongest resume soft skills sections include a mix of skills that match your best personal strengths, and that reflect the skills listed in the job description. See below for some examples of effective soft skills for a stay at home mom resume.
- Time management skills
- Effective multitasking abilities
- Emotional intelligence (EI)
Education
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for stay at home mom roles.
You don't tend to need a degree for stay at home mom roles, but you'll still need to list any relevant qualifications, or your relevant educational achievements. If you have Google Data Analytics, add this here, along with any other education that shows your MS Office proficiency or multitasking ability.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. If you have space, include some bullet points outlining any specialist areas of study, awards or high grades, so the employer can learn more about your unique skill set and knowledge.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Family and Consumer Sciences, 2017 - 2020
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Relevant Certifications and Licenses
Under this section, list any relevant certifications or licenses that are relevant to stay at home mom jobs. These might be licenses that show you're qualified to operate certain equipment, or certifications that give you the edge over candidates with otherwise similar career history. Therefore, make sure you list the dates of your certifications and licenses so employers can see they're up-to-date and valid.
Review the list below for some suitable certifications for a stay at home mom resume:
- Google Data Analytics, 2022
- Project Management Professional, 2022
- Certified ScrumMaster, 2022
Work Experience
Under your work experience section, add any jobs you've had in the past that are relevant to the position of a stay at home mom. Include any relevant jobs you've held in reverse-chronological order. Start with your current or most recent roles and work back through previous roles. For each job, list your title, the name of the company, its location and the dates you worked there.
For each job listed in this section, add some bullet points so the employer can understand the skills you developed, and your achievements. Focus on showcasing the impact you made on the organization, and show evidence of how you made a difference.
An effective resume work experience section is one that constantly echoes the skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you used your skills to positive effect in each job. Each bullet point should be carefully crafted to showcase a particular skill or achievement relevant to stay at home mom jobs, with evidence to show the value you added. There are some examples of strong resume work experience sections below.
Domestic Operations Manager, January 2022 - Present
Home Harmony Solutions, Plano
- Optimized operational workflows, reducing costs by 15% and improving delivery times by 20%
- Successfully implemented a new inventory management system, decreasing stock discrepancies by 30%
- Led cross-functional teams to achieve a 25% increase in customer satisfaction scores through process improvements and staff training
Domestic Operations Manager, January 2022 - Present
Home Harmony Solutions, Plano
- Managed household logistics and schedules, ensuring smooth daily operations and timely completion of tasks
- Coordinated family activities and events, fostering a cohesive and supportive home environment
- Developed and maintained household budget, optimizing resource allocation and reducing unnecessary expenses
In the graphic above you can see a great example of what to avoid when writing your resume work experience section. Poor examples of resume work experience sections tend to be vague and fail to quantify your achievements and the impact you've made in your career to date. They may also focus on responsibilities above relevant skills and how you've used them.
Hear from experts:
Focus on specific accomplishments that highlight your work ethic and reliability, such as "reduced processing time by 15%" or "earned Employee of the Month twice." (1) Pair this with a simple, clean format that ensures your resume looks professional and approachable. (2)
Optional Resume Sections
There are several additional sections you could add to a stay at home mom resume, to improve your chances of success. Take a look at the sections below and add any that help you show how and why you're right for the job.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. They also help to show a different side of your personality, and can help your resume create a more memorable impression on hiring managers. If you're short on real world work experience, hobbies and interests can be a useful way of providing more information about your qualities. Think about adding hobbies and interests to your resume if they add some insight into your personality that you can't express elsewhere in your application.
Voluntary Work
Adding voluntary roles can be a useful way of showing relevant experience and skills for stay at home mom roles beyond your main employment history. Add any voluntary roles, including your position, the name of the organization, the dates of your voluntary work and a brief explanation of your responsibilities and achievements.
References
Standard stay at home mom resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Include a maximum of three professional references, being sure to check with your referees before including them in your resume.
References can be provided upon request.
Best strong verbs for your a stay at home mom resume
Add strong verbs to your work experience section to show the hiring manager the impact you made in your previous roles. Choose verbs from the suggestions below that highlight your key skills or those mentioned in the job description.
- Organize
- Manage
- Coordinate
- Facilitate
- Budget
- Schedule
- Plan
- Supervise
- Instruct
- Multitask
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Example resume for stay at home mom applications
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your stay at home mom resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
0001 Cemetery Lane, New York, NY
•
james.jones@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/james–jones123
Experienced Household Manager with a strong background in organizing and managing all aspects of home operations. Adept at multitasking, budgeting, scheduling, and ensuring a smoothly running household. Proven ability to manage time effectively, prioritize tasks, and maintain a high level of attention to detail. Skilled in coordinating activities, managing household staff, and providing a nurturing environment. Seeking to leverage organizational and management skills in a new professional opportunity.
Household Manager
2020
-2022
Homestead Harmony Solutions (Fremont)
- Streamlined household operations by implementing efficient systems, resulting in a 25% reduction in monthly expenses
- Successfully managed a team of staff, enhancing productivity and ensuring a spotless, well-organized living environment
- Coordinated and executed high-profile events, achieving 100% client satisfaction and strengthening household reputation
Project management
Time management
Conflict resolution
Time management skills
Effective multitasking abilities
Emotional intelligence (EI)
Google Data Analytics
Project Management Professional
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a stay at home mom resume
- Add key skills throughout your resume that match the job description, along with a dedicated 'skills' section.
- Use a well-structured resume layout that optimizes headings, structure, margins, fonts and line spacing to make your document as accessible as possible to the reader.
- Tailor your resume for each application you send. Review the job description and adapt the content to reflect the specific requirements, including key skills and experience.
- Add your relevant education details, including any high grades such as your GPA or degree result.
- Use strong action words to demonstrate the impact you've made in each stay at home mom role (e.g. 'facilitate', 'budget', 'schedule').
- Don't exaggerate, lie or hide details about yourself as these can all undermine your chances of success with stay at home mom applications.
- Don't list work experience that has no relation to the role you're applying for. It wastes space and is unlikely to impress hiring managers.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms that can make your stay at home mom resume more difficult to read.
- Don't forget to keep your header up-to-date with every application, to make sure you don't include old contact information.
- Don't use an email address that creates an unprofessional impression. Instead, create an email address for job applications based on your name.
Making an ATS-friendly resume
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is just one of the tools employers and recruiters can use to streamline their hiring practices. This typically includes screening candidates by scanning and ranking their resumes based on their likely suitability for any vacancy. When drafting your stay at home mom resume, there are a few guidelines to follow to give you the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage and progressing with your application.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume format, such as reverse-chronological or functional. These will give your resume a structure that's easier for ATS systems to scan.
- Add keywords throughout your resume that help ATS software match your application to the job description. A higher match means your application is more likely to proceed to be reviewed by human eyes.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Utilize a clean, clear resume design that helps make your content more readable. Use simple fonts and subtle color accents and design elements that don't detract from the written content.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
For tips and ideas to help you draft a professional resume to get noticed by employers, read our expert career articles and check out our detailed resume examples.
Frequently Asked Questions about a stay at home mom resume
As well as writing a professional stay at home mom resume, you'll need a cover letter to introduce yourself and emphasize your experience.
Check the job description to see whether a full, formal cover letter is necessary. In some situations, it might be more suitable to simply send a brief email to introduce yourself and accompany your resume.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to the job you are applying for after your time as a stay at home mom. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
You can create a professional cover letter in just a few simple, easy-to-follow steps using Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates.
For a stay at home mom, the resume is an account of your achievements and the skills you've gained through your career. As an experienced candidate, your stay at home mom resume might include a work experience section that goes back beyond the standard 10 to 15 years. This will give you the chance to highlight your extensive experience and achievements. In your updated stay at home mom resume, think about any optional sections you could add to help prove your standing and reputation in your industry. Sections such as awards, achievements and projects can build a picture of your career successes to date.
Use a resume headline to make it easy for the reader to start assessing your suitability for stay at home mom positions at first glance. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
You can use this example resume headline as a template for creating your own:
- Domestic Management and Childcare Specialist
- Domestic Management and Childcare Specialist
- Experienced Household Management Specialist
The top resume format for your applications will vary according to a couple of factors. First, how much professional experience you have. Second, what type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. If you don't have much experience, for example if you're applying for a graduate role or changing careers, you might consider a functional resume format. This focuses on your skills and education above your work experience.
On the other hand, if you're experienced in your industry or applying for senior positions, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format is usually best. This places most emphasis on your work experience.
Key takeaways for your stay at home mom resume
The key to a strong resume is to showcase your relevant skills and achievements through your work experience and other activities. Pick a resume format that matches your experience levels, and tailor the content of your resume to reflect the details of the job description.
Jobseeker has a wealth of resume tools, including resume templates and examples, to help you create a winning job application. Sign up today to get started. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
